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GRATITUDE FOR
OLD TEACHERS
Beneath us the teachers, and around us the stillness.
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— Robert Bly
Marking the 40th anniversary of the
Minnesota Men´s Conference.
Join Leon Cossar and Asher Packman for a special one-day retreat at Yarrakoora in the Byron Hinterland on Bundjalung country as we honour the 40th anniversary of the Minnesota Men's Conference (MMC).
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The centrepiece of the day will be Leon’s retelling of Iron John—the beloved tale that became a cornerstone of Bly’s work. This ancient story explores the deep, archetypal journey of initiation and the need for each man to uncover and integrate the wild, soulful parts of himself that are often buried beneath modern demands. Its relevance today serves as a reminder of the ongoing importance of mature, grounded masculine energy.
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Founded by Robert Bly in 1984, the MMC is a gathering of men dedicated to embodying what it means to live a life of character, depth and consequence amidst the chaos of our times. For four decades, men of all backgrounds have come together in the ritual sharing of ancient stories, poetry and ritual, drawing nourishment for the soul.
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When: 9th November
Time: 8am - 4pm
Where: Rites of Passage Institute (Byron Hinterland)
Full Price: $80 - $120
Limited Spaces Available
THE RITE PATH
TRAILING THE POETICS OF INITIATION
The Rite Path is a mentorship program exploring Rites of Passage as it largely pertains to male initiation. It has been designed for men seeking to understand the inner story, poetics and lyricism of their own lives through an initiatory and mythopoetic lens.
Poetry and myth-telling form a large part of the corpus as a way of working with and cultivating a mythopoetic language. The keystone of the mentorship is a Wilderness Vigil – an ancient rite of passage involving a four-day-four-night fast in solitude surrounded by wilderness.
In the lead up to and following the vigil, men are guided through the gestation and integration process via online calls to appropriately prepare and support the serious nature of this initiatory journey.
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Registration is by application.
The Thread You Follow
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“… it goes among things that change but it doesn’t change…while you hold it you can’t get lost..”
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FREE MASTERCLASS FOR TGOM 2024
The great Poet William Stafford spoke of a thread weaving through the heart of our lives that keeps us true. So how do we find the thread of our life, and most importantly, remain holding onto it through trial and tribulation?
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Employing the ancient art of poetry, Leon introduces several beautiful practices as doorways into the mythopoetic language – a thread at the heart of humanity and culture making.